Job Description

Details

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Reference number

436446

Salary

54,515 - 58,582
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Fixed term

Length of employment

18 months

Type of role

Project Delivery

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB

About the job

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Job summary

We're looking for an exceptional

Programme Manager (Level 2)

to help us make a difference to our planet.


As our Programme Manager (Level 2), the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.


Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.


Whilst this is a temporary position until for up to 18 months, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

We're a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact We're experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making We're better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Job description

Your world of expertise

In the Programme Manager role you will be responsible for leading 'Aviation Services Programme'. The vision of the Programme is to remain the recognised source for trusted, world leading, environmental services for aviation. Delivering this through the use of pioneering science and technology to deliver global impact, safety, and efficiency, in a changing world.

Key Duties:

Business case - Development and clearance of the business case with project leads and SMEs. This involves considerable engagement with the Programme SRO. Business Leads and Technology. Communications & Stakeholder Management - Identify, build trust and manage stakeholder relationships and highlight need for senior level support. Resource Management - Works with Programme Board and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate an agreed resource plan and direct planning scheduling for high value/risk and large-scale programmes. Provide appropriate direction and guidance to ensure efficient use of resources. Guidance - Provide direction and guidance on development to the team and more broadly across departmental profession. Risk Management - Oversee risk and issue management. Ensures mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreement Benefits Realisation - Ensure that programme activity is effectively planned and designed to deliver customer benefits and meet defined programme requirements. Programme Performance & Controls -Maintain overall integrity and coherence of programme and governance framework to support each project. Plan programme assurance activities. Leadership vision & objectives - Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes. Dependency Management - Work with project leads and business as usual to ensure dependencies are actively managed, act as an arbiter and enforcer and resolve issues between the various elements of the programme. Requirements Analysis - Be first point of contact for new demands understanding the initial ask and implications and deciding on next steps. The Programme Manager (Level 2) role is part of the Project Delivery Capability Framework. Full details of expected responsibilities can be found here: PDCF Framework. The role may require some travel in the UK and possible limited international travel.

Person specification

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

Qualifications and Experience. Experience of working within a Programme environment or experience within the Programme Manager role itself. The relevant certifications are either: Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) - Practitioner, APM Chartered Project Professional, or Project Leadership Programme. (Experts by Nature) Managing Complexity. Experience of delivering programmes with a degree of complexity. Complexity is generally characterised by the degree of risk or uncertainty, size, politically sensitivity, technically complexity, and number of stakeholders. Leadership. Ability to communicate the goals and benefits of the programme and work with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver agreed programme outcomes. Able to draw upon experience to resolve a wide range of issues with differing levels of complexity. Influence. Proven ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders who are typically part of existing contractual and reporting arrangements, as well as multi-disciplinary team, working to ensure engagement and delivery of results. Communication and Collaboration. Demonstrate we are better together by having the ability to build and maintain relationships, demonstrate the professional credibility required to work collaboratively across Programme and organisational boundaries. Has experience working with strategic supplier partners. Clear, confident compelling communicator (oral, verbal, written, listening and presentation) is essential. Business Change. Demonstrable experience in proactively preparing for the impact of change. Showing all necessary activities are planned, executed and implemented. Technology. Experience of having a combination of working as Project lead on Technology Projects and working as a Programme lead for a Technology Programme.

Desirable Criteria & Competencies:

Ability to understand the interaction between Product, Programme, and Technology and the responsibilities of each area. Agile Certification or significant experience in this form of delivery. Government Digital Service (GDS) knowledge and experience.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 54,515, Met Office contributes 15,792 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their 'Best Workplaces in Tech' 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list.


As our Programme Manager (Level 2), your total reward package will be up to 75,857 annually, which includes:

54,515 base pay An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97% Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

How to apply

If you share our values, we'd love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.


Closing date 19/11/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 24/11/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.


If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.


We understand that great minds don't always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.


We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Resourcing Team Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk